India's annual consumer price inflation edged up to a 17-month high of 5.69 per cent in January, driven up by higher food costs, government data showed on Friday.
Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast retail inflation would ease to 5.4 percent from 5.61 per cent in December.
Retail food prices last month were up 6.85 per cent on year, compared with a 6.40 per cent recorded in December.
Prices of pulses in particular showed a sharp spike. In some urban areas, prices surged nearly 50 per cent from last year. And on a combined basis (urban and rural), it rose 43 per cent.
Essential Business Intelligence, Continuous LIVE TV, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
